TOKYO - JAPAN'S top automakers said on Wednesday they had slashed production in December to cope with a slump in sales, with Toyota Motor Corp reporting a 24.9 per cent drop in global output.

Nissan Motor reported a 35.9 per cent plunge in worldwide production while Honda logged a 7.5 per cent drop.

For 2008, Toyota, the world's top selling automaker, said its global output slipped 3.8 per cent. Nissan reported a 1.1 per cent drop while Honda posted a 1.2 per cent rise.

Japanese companies have been idling plants and laying off workers to cope with the global economic crisis, which has sent demand for cars plunging as consumers tighten their belts in recession-hit major economies.

Mitsubishi Motors said its global production dropped 38.5 per cent in December from a year earlier. -- AFP